Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 4

Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

Related players: Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall

As the story went on to say, the threshold question is whether he’ll have the meniscus trimmed or repaired. As to the former, the player can come back quickly. As to the latter, he could miss several months. The story also pointed out that the other side of the coin is that a repair maximizes the amount of cartilage in the knee. A trim reduces the cushioning, setting the stage for a potential bone-on-bone situation. The story added what it thinks is the smart, long-term play - to get the meniscus repaired and the team goes with Darnold in 2024 and Hall would be the backup. McCarthy could potentially make a return around November. This is just the opinion of the author of course, we should get more information soon. For now, Darnold should get a bump in value with McCarthy at least temporarily out of the picture. He has the weapons around him to be a potential QB2 and superflex option.

Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is not participating in the Vikings’ Monday night practice.

Coach Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy reported right knee soreness to the team’s medical staff.

Related players: Sam Darnold

McCarthy played 30 snaps in the preseason opener and went 11-of-17 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He was scheduled to receive more snaps with the first-team offense this week, O’Connell said in the story. The team said they sat him out of precaution and also wanted to run more tests.

As the third week of camp nears an end, Sam Darnold has received all but two of the first-team reps in 11-on-11 drills. J.J. McCarthy got the other two. This should be no surprise to anyone who has listened to coach Kevin O'Connell talk about the position. While McCarthy is clearly the club's future quarterback, team leaders are in agreement that his ascension will not be rushed.

Any doubts that Darnold will start the season as QB1 seem to be out the window at this point. The Vikings do have a tough opening schedule, with the 49ers, Texans, Packers, and re-vamped Jets coming before their Week 6 Bye. McCarthy could be a play by the second half of the season, so we'll see how he looks for streaming purposes if/when that time comes.

QB Sam Darnold will take the majority of first-team snaps when camp opens, Kevin O'Connell reiterated.

Related players: J.J. McCarthy

Darnold was expected to be the bridge quarterback when the team signed him and also drafted McCarthy in the first round. McCarthy should also see first-team reps, but it seems like the Vikings are sticking with Darnold as the QB1 plan, at least early on in the season.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announces T.J. Hockenson will be placed on the PUP list to start training camp.

Related players: Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan

This comes as no surprise. However the Vikings say Hock is well ahead of schedule at this point. Hockenson is likely to be eased back into action when he does return later in the season, and will also be dealing with another new QB at the helm. As we point out, Hockenson will be just 7 months and 10 days out from his injury at the Week 1 mark.

The Texans signed veteran running back Cam Akers Sunday.

Akers was in for a tryout Sunday and came away with a contract. The former Viking and Ram now joins a Houston backfield that added former Bengal Joe Mixon in free agency and still has Dameon Pierce. Devin Singletary signed with the Giants. Akers is recovering from his second torn Achilles suffered last November against the Falcons.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence on Friday near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the California Highway Patrol confirmed to NFL.com on Sunday.

Related Players: Justin Jefferson, Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield

With the details still a little murky, it's hard to say if there will be any sort of suspension handed down from the league. Reportedly, Addison was found sleeping behind the wheel, blocking lanes of traffic. This would be the second legal issue the receiver has faced in as many offseasons. We'll keep an eye on this story as it develops.

Sam Darnold will continue as the Minnesota Vikings' lead quarterback when training camp opens next month, coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its final OTA of the spring.

O'Connell stopped short of projecting anything beyond that, saying he plans for a "competitive" training camp at many positions. The Vikings have three other quarterbacks on their roster: Rookie J.J. McCarthy and veterans Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.

Even if Darnold begins Week 1 as the starting quarterback, we shouldn't assume that continues deep into the season. McCarthy can still be targeted (very) late in best ball drafts, while neither option should be in consideration for typical 1QB redraft leagues.

A record deal: the Vikings and three-time Pro-Bowl WR Justin Jefferson reached agreement on a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $110 million guaranteed and makes him not only the highest-paid WR in NFL history, but the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

Jefferson’s deal includes $88.743 million due at signing, the highest non-QB guarantee at signing in NFL history. And it resets the WR market.

Related Players: Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, N'Keal Harry

Jefferson is one of five players ever with 5,000-plus receiving yards in his first four seasons, and his 5,899 career yards are nearly 400 more than any other player in NFL history along that same measure, according to NFL Research.

This locks in one of the best playmakers in the league for Sam Darnold/J.J. McCarthy going forward.

WR Justin Jefferson, who has been in talks with the Vikings regarding a contract extension, was not spotted at the team’s training facility today for the start of organized team activities.

Related Players: Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, N'Keal Harry

This is likely a non-story for now, but we'll keep an eye on it. The Vikings WR depth chart isn't particularly deep behind Jefferson and Addison, so it would behoove the team to keep their star receiver on the field for Sam Darnold/J.J. McCarthy.